
5*s
The Swimming Pool gets my recommendation as a must-read novel of the summer, preferably by your own swimming pool, the sounds and the smells enhancing the wonderful backdrop to this scary tale about female friendship.
When previously staid, middle-aged teacher Natalie Steele hears that the swimming pool near her home has been renovated, she’s anxious. Her daughter Molly has an extreme water phobia after all and a pool isn’t going to help. But, all too soon she is drawn to it, to the exclusion of pretty much everything and everyone else, well everyone that is except her new best friend Lara. Lara Faulkner is confident and glamorous as befits her former life as an actress, and the more sceptical in Natalie’s circle wonder what the attraction is? The fact that from Natalie’s perspective that there is an attraction is not in doubt! As the summer holiday unfolds Natalie begins to question all that she held most dear and for a while, wishes that the summer could last forever!
Natalie is a compelling character, she is typical of her generation, living in a rented apartment because following an early marriage to her husband Ed they didn’t manage to get on the property ladder at the right time. Theirs is a typical family, hard-working if a bit earnest they have adapted their early ideals to make a comfortable and safe life for their daughter Molly. Molly’s phobia has obviously become a huge issue, particularly for Natalie and the scenes where Natalie realises that Molly no longer needs her protection in the way she used to really resonated with my experience of parenting an early teen.
This is a clever tale that slowly unfolds in front of us over the course of one summer holiday. The way that Natalie is drawn to Lara obviously foretells something awful but quite what is the question. This feeling is mirrored by the writing which is nothing but foreboding with the heat and the tension rising of each and every page, I really felt myself pulled into the story. Like the onlookers in Natalie’s circle including her husband, fellow teacher, Ed, I was wondering what is behind the friendship and what the autumn would look like for all concerned.
But this book isn’t just about this summer, we know that Natalie had a summer of madness many years earlier and as the tale of a different more murky natural pool, the setting for adolescent life in the 1985. The mystery is what does this long ago summer have to do with anything, except the haunting of Natalie as she relives her actions from that time.
The dénouement is brutal as the secrets that have been half-hidden are revealed following an explosive end of summer party held at the Lido and by the time it came I wasn’t quite sure what to believe. A truly captivating end to a wonderfully readable novel.
Louise Candlish takes a believable situation and clouds the underbelly in shadow. So I suggest that you go set up your sun-lounger and prepare to be entertained by the characters, setting and a plot that swirls like a whirlpool!
I was lucky enough to receive my copy for review from Lovereading, The Swimming Pool will be published on 5 May 2016 by Penguin UK.
I was particularly pleased to have the opportunity to read this book as I loved The Sudden Departure of the Frasers last year, so much so that I have also read The Disappearance of Emily Marr, both of which I highly recommend. Luckily Louise Candlish has a large back-catalogue to explore and I have another in reserve on the TBR.
This sounds good… Now, I just need to organise my own swimming pool to read by 😉
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I know would be a lovely accompaniment!
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Oh I have this and am so looking forward to it-hoping it gets warmer soon so I can read it in the garden (no pool unfortunately, only next doors water feature to listen to!) Like you I loved The Sudden Disappearance of the Fraser’s and also need to catch up on her back catalogue x
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A water feature may work 😉 I have Other People’s Secrets on standby so far..
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This sounds really interesting. All I need is a holiday now 😉
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You and me both!
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Great review, this was already on my wishlist
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It definitely deserves a place – it’s even better than The Sudden Departure of the Frasers
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I really like the idea of that pool as the focus of the story, Cleo. And the characters sound really interesting. I have to admit, too, I really respect it when the author does that ‘slow reveal’ sort of thing…
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Yes the slow reveal worked really well especially as there was a sense of foreboding throughout but it wasn’t clear where the danger was going to come from!
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I like the story line of this one. I’ve requested it from Netgalley despite geographical restrictions!
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I hope you manage to get a copy, it is really very good indeed!
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You have won me over! This book is definitely going on my list for summer reading….and I guess I could find a pool somewhere. Oh, yeah, my daughter has one. LOL. Thanks!
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Oh I am so pleased to hear that Laurel – this is a book that is worth a read and a bonus that you can find a pool to read it next to.
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Hmmm this is one to keep my eye on. Unreliable characters Cleo? You are definitely adding many books to my TBR list, how will I keep up. 🙂
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The same way I do? In other words you don’t!
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Thanks Cleo. I must try this author.
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This one was particularly good and so far that makes 3 out of 3!
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Very, very tempting, but I need to know – FPPT? I do wish they’d make samples available on NG, so you could see the writing style before requesting… but I’ll just use you instead… 😉
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I’m afraid some of it is in the dreaded FFPT
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Pity! Never mind – keep trying… 😉
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I notice some on NetGalley say “read excerpt” over the book, but by no means all – here’s hoping it’ll catch on and you can vet them beforehand FF!
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This book is slow burner in the heat of a sultry London summer…. only the brave can read it by the swimming pool!
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I’ve got this to read – and The Sudden Departure… – and I’ll be moving it right up the TBR pile; it sounds intriguing! I do hope you enjoyed your holiday BTW, and got lots of reading and relaxing done!
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I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages, and you’ve made me want to read it even more! Great review 🙂
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Oh you must read it – this one is highly tipped to make my top ten of the year – thank you 🙂
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Oh really?! Wow okay I definitely will!
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